Paris Jackson shares her father's advice and efforts to protect her on "Ellen"

By: Camille Mann
Topics: Television ,; Celebrity

Host Ellen DeGeneres, right, welcomes Paris Jackson, daughter of the late pop star Michael Jackson during a taping of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Dec. 13, 2011.

(Credit: AP/Warner Bros.)

(CBS) Paris Jackson, daughter of the late pop-superstar Michael Jackson, shared with Ellen DeGeneres the best advice her father gave her in a rare televised interview for "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

"He said, 'If I die tomorrow, always remember what I told you.' I took his advice, and I remembered everything he told me," the 13-year-old said in an interview scheduled to air Thursday, according to People.

Jackson also discussed the masks her father made her and her two brothers wear when they went out with him in public.

"I'm like, 'This is stupid, why am I wearing a mask?'" she told DeGeneres. "But I kind of realized the older I got, like, he only tried to protect us and he'd explain that to us too."

She added that she now lives a relatively normal life.

"I'm treated the same," Jackson said. "When I came to [her school], they didn't know who I was. I was like, yes, I have a chance to be normal."

But now, Jackson has decided to step in the spotlight herself - she has a role in the upcoming fantasy film "Lundon's Bridge and the Three Keys." She told DeGeneres that her father inspired her go to into acting.

"My dad was in the movie 'Moonwalker,' and I knew he could sing really well but I didn't know he could act. I saw that and I said, 'Wow, I want to be just like him,'" she explained.

She added, "We would do improve together. He would give us little scenarios. He would go, 'Okay, in this scene you're going to cry,' and I'd cry on the spot."

Paris and her two brothers, Prince and Blanket, are now in the care of their grandmother Katherine Jackson.

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by Arviebird December 18, 2011 4:12 AM EST: Well nice to see this young girl is pursuing her dreams. She is beautiful, well adjusted and I wish her well. Hope she can keep her eye on the task or job of acting and not all the rest of the character eroding snags. Michael may have protected them with masks, he may not even have been their biological father, but judging from these kids, his love and kindness really made them happy and secure. Hats off to the guy for the job he did with them in spite of his own difficulities.; Reply to this comment


by cashin3 December 15, 2011 1:58 PM EST: Ellen congrats! Paris did a wonderful job on her first interview.
I think Paris Jackson is a lovely young girl. It was very nice to see her and her brothers. I think it was a good thing the children were not exposed to the "business" to early...and I hope that people out there don't take advantage of Paris as she is starting her career in entertainment. I wish you all the best :); Reply to this comment


by debbie1120 December 15, 2011 12:00 PM EST: She has a dream like every other 13 year old. If she wants to act, let her. My only advise would be, please do not let your grandfather or anyone in the Jackson family manage your career. Find someone outside the family to manage you.; Reply to this comment


by bree1345 December 15, 2011 8:25 AM EST: She is a beautiful young lady and if she wants to persue acting than why not. At least she is grounded. She seems to have a strong mind and she is young, wisdom comes with age. Good Luck Paris.; Reply to this comment


by jose_z1 December 15, 2011 7:47 AM EST: looks like the Jackson elders have started on their new project.
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.; Reply to this comment


by InnerView December 15, 2011 2:04 AM EST: Oh no. Actress? What an opportunity to just go to school, be a role model and do something great for society in someway.; Reply to this comment

by fppmedia December 14, 2011 11:05 PM EST

Some may say Mike turned his back on the black community by going out of his way to have white children.. But let's face it, Barry Gordy and Motown was only able to take Mike so far.. When the "White Money" came into his life the sky became the limit for him.
I think Paris and the other children should remain behind the scenes and let the trust funds work for them.There are far too many well trained actors out there who can't even get an audition because we want to break the rules for Mike's white kids regardless of their talents or lack there of. She may suprise all of us and stand out as a naturally talented person.. The fact is she will be afforded the chance just because of who and what she is. It is unfair but the entertainment bizz is unfair as well. I wonder if Mike had black children the normal way.. Would they get all the offers?? Maybe he was alot smarter that most of us give him credit for.
All that money is still under control of the white establishment just like the industry that created it. May he rest in peace as the three children he made into instant millionaires keep the money where it came from.. There are going to be alot of ugly things said if she does'nt succeed.

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by pak31 December 15, 2011 8:38 AM EST: Who cares? Why wonder all these what ifs when that isn't reality? Let the girl live her life, you get to live yours don't you? If ugly things are said, then shame on those people saying ugly things. There is no law or rule that says this girl can't go into entertainment. It's their loss not hers in the end.

by DangerousLee December 14, 2011 10:34 PM EST

Paris's mother is white and she looks alot like her. "Mixed" children do not always take after the darker parent. These comments about race and color are so damn ignorant! Were you there when she was conceived? Have you done a DNA test?

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by fppmedia December 14, 2011 11:14 PM EST: Exactly how were they "conceived"?I don't think Mike was there either.

by moveoverr December 14, 2011 10:21 PM EST

I have a feeling his reason for making the kids wear scarves and veils across their faces in public had more to do with being selfish and less to do with protecting their privacy. Let's face it .... he most likely did it as a cover so that HE could wear a scarf to hide his own face also while it healed from the many plastic surgeries he was constantly having over the years. He was just using his kids as an excuse so he could run between a limosine and a doorway without having to explain all his fresh scars and swollen face.

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by pak31 December 15, 2011 8:41 AM EST: Wow, you know so much about what went on in Michael Jackson's mind. Why does it matter what he did? He was a parent just like others in this country and nothing he did was wrong, granted the veils WERE strange but I hardly think it had to do with his surgeries.

by Samlv December 14, 2011 8:21 PM EST

I noticed that she does not look like Michael.

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by reneemontillo98 December 14, 2011 9:16 PM EST: She does not look like Michael because obviously, she is not his biological daughter. There is no way that she could be a member of the Jackson family. They all are dark skinned and have African American features (before the plastic surgery.) Paris shows no resemblance to them.


by pak31 December 15, 2011 8:43 AM EST: I don't understand why that matters. What about all the adopted children in this country?? They don't look like their parents either. Regardless of DNA, their parents love them as much as if they were their own(genetically).